3D Structure Research Articles

Neovascularization restructuring patterns in diabetic patients with coronary in stent restenosis: an in-vivo optical coherence tomography study.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an increased risk of in stent restenosis (ISR). Neovascularization (NV) is considered as a unique pathophysiology factor of ISR in diabetic patients. However, the restructuring patterns of in vivo human coronary NV and their relationship with ISR, especially in diabetic patients remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the NV structure differentiations between patients with and without DM after coronary stent implantation using optical coherence tomography (OCT).We included 136 patients with ISR (70 patients in DM group and 66 patients in non-DM group) who underwent OCT during coronary angiography follow-up. NVs were manually segmented, after which three-dimensional (3D) rendering of OCT images was conducted. NVs greater than 1 mm in length were classified as longitudinal running or coral tree types based on their 3D structures. NV structures were compared between DM and non-DM patients.The prevalence of the coral tree pattern NV in the DM group was 2.14-fold higher than in the non-DM group(p = 0.012). 47.14% of patients in the DM group and 51.51% of patients in the non-DM group presented longitudinal running NV (p = 0.610). The number of coral tree pattern NV was relatively higher in DM patients than in the non-DM patients (p = 0.019). However, the number of longitudinal running NV showed no difference between the two groups (p = 0.872). The normalized NV volume was significantly larger in the DM group (p = 0.008). Patients with coral tree pattern NV have thinner minimum fibrous cap thickness (p = 0.030). DM was the risk factor for coral tree pattern NV formation in ISR lesions after adjustment for other factors.NV with specific restructuring patterns, such as longitudinal running and coral tree patterns, can be identified in ISR lesions. NV with a coral tree pattern, characterized by higher leakiness and immaturity, is more commonly found in patients with DM and is associated with tissue instability in ISR. Accurate and feasible imaging modalities for NV might offer promising opportunities to evaluate NV and prevent progression of ISR in diabetic patients.

AI-Assisted 3D Modeling Strategy for Microstructure-Based Functional Surfaces Using ChatGPT and Random Forest

With the development of computer programming, product design is being carried out through computer programming such as 3D CAD/CAM when developing products, and the cost of developing new products can be greatly reduced by using 3D modeling tools in which various engineering theories are programmed. With the recent rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), various AI applications have been actively proposed in various fields. In this study, we report a ChatGPT-based 3D modeling program (CMP) which can easily design microstructures, and the theory of wettability that was programmed into the CMP. Since the theory related to wettability is programmed into the CMP, once the user enters basic information about the desired functional surface, such as superhydrophobic surfaces, at the CMP prompt, 3D structures with the performance of superhydrophobicity are immediately provided. Through microstructure fabrication techniques, the microstructure designed by the CMP was actually fabricated, wettability experiments were conducted, and it was confirmed that a superhydrophobic surface was successfully designed. As such, the AI-based CMP can easily design microstructure-based functional surfaces, and we expect this method not only to decrease the fabrication costs of designing micro/nano structures but also to be useful in various fields.

Interpenetrating Network Strategy for Highly Effective Toughening of Epoxy Resin Using Cellulose Microgels

AbstractEpoxy resin (EP) is widely used in coatings, adhesives, and molding materials. EP's high crosslinking density provides a strong modulus but also leads to reduced elongation at break and lower toughness. In this study, bacterial cellulose microgel (BC‐M) is employed to toughen EP through in situ polymerization, to form an interpenetrating network with EP. Bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BC‐CNF) and ethylated bacterial cellulose microgels (EM) are used as controls to highlight the advantages of the 3D network in enhancing polymer toughness. BC‐M demonstrates the most effective toughening performance for EP. At a filler content of 0.3 wt.%, BC‐M/EP nanocomposites exhibite significant improvements in mechanical properties, including a fracture strength of 107.8 MPa, strain of 3.53%, Young's modulus of 3.09 GPa, and toughness of 1.98 kJ m−3. Compared to EP, these values represent enhancements of 40%, 9.5%, 27.3%, and 58.4%, respectively. Comparisons with BC‐CNF/EP and EM/EP nanocomposites clearly demonstrate that BC‐M provided superior toughening effects. The exceptional toughening capability of BC‐M is attributed to its 3D network structure, which effectively dissipates applied energy, and its strong interfacial interaction with the epoxy matrix through covalent bonding.

Impact of data structure types and spatial resolution on landslide volumetric change measurements

Terrain is a dynamic component of the landscape, subject to rapid changes, particularly in scenarios such as landslides. This study investigates how the spatial resolution and data structure of digital terrain models (DTMs) influence the estimation of landslide volume changes. We selected a landslide formed by the undercutting action of the Belá River in Slovakia as our research site. Our findings indicate that raster data structures, across various spatial resolutions, generally yield more consistent volume estimates compared to 3D mesh data structures. Nonetheless, at higher spatial resolutions (0.1 m and 0.25 m), the 3D mesh data structure demonstrates superior capability in capturing detailed terrain features, resulting in more precise volume estimations of the landslide.

Toward Automated DNA Nanoprinting: Advancing the Synthesis of Covalently Branched DNA.

Covalently branched DNA molecules are hybrid structures where a small molecule core is covalently linked to different DNA strands. They merge the programmability of DNA nanotechnology with synthetic molecules' functionality, offering enhanced stability over their non-covalent counterparts like double-crossover tiles. They enable the efficient assembly of stable DNA nanostructures with new geometries and functionalities. These motifs can be prepared through "DNA printing", which uses a DNA nanostructure as a temporary template to covalently transfer specific DNA strands to a small molecule core. Here, the "printing" process is streamlined with DNA-immobilized polystyrene microspheres, laying the foundation for future automated DNA printing devices. First, the DNA template hybridizes with reactive complementary strands, which are then crosslinked using a small molecule. Second, beads with fully complementary molecules capture the "daughter" products by strand displacement. This ensures high product yields and high recovery of the "mother" template for reuse. This method allows the precise transfer of different DNA strands onto various small molecules, including aromatics and functional porphyrins. Notably, these branching motifs exhibit remarkable stability toward nucleases without any specialized modifications. Moreover, they can serve as robust building blocks for precise assembly of 3D structures, such as an addressable tetrahedron from only two components.

The Depth Estimation and Visualization of Dermatological Lesions: Development and Usability Study.

Thus far, considerable research has been focused on classifying a lesion as benign or malignant. However, there is a requirement for quick depth estimation of a lesion for the accurate clinical staging of the lesion. The lesion could be malignant and quickly grow beneath the skin. While biopsy slides provide clear information on lesion depth, it is an emerging domain to find quick and noninvasive methods to estimate depth, particularly based on 2D images. This study proposes a novel methodology for the depth estimation and visualization of skin lesions. Current diagnostic methods are approximate in determining how much a lesion may have proliferated within the skin. Using color gradients and depth maps, this method will give us a definite estimate and visualization procedure for lesions and other skin issues. We aim to generate 3D holograms of the lesion depth such that dermatologists can better diagnose melanoma. We started by performing classification using a convolutional neural network (CNN), followed by using explainable artificial intelligence to localize the image features responsible for the CNN output. We used the gradient class activation map approach to perform localization of the lesion from the rest of the image. We applied computer graphics for depth estimation and developing the 3D structure of the lesion. We used the depth from defocus method for depth estimation from single images and Gabor filters for volumetric representation of the depth map. Our novel method, called red spot analysis, measures the degree of infection based on how a conical hologram is constructed. We collaborated with a dermatologist to analyze the 3D hologram output and received feedback on how this method can be introduced to clinical implementation. The neural model plus the explainable artificial intelligence algorithm achieved an accuracy of 86% in classifying the lesions correctly as benign or malignant. For the entire pipeline, we mapped the benign and malignant cases to their conical representations. We received exceedingly positive feedback while pitching this idea at the King Edward Memorial Institute in India. Dermatologists considered this a potentially useful tool in the depth estimation of lesions. We received a number of ideas for evaluating the technique before it can be introduced to the clinical scene. When we map the CNN outputs (benign or malignant) to the corresponding hologram, we observe that a malignant lesion has a higher concentration of red spots (infection) in the upper and deeper portions of the skin, and that the malignant cases have deeper conical sections when compared with the benign cases. This proves that the qualitative results map with the initial classification performed by the neural model. The positive feedback provided by the dermatologist suggests that the qualitative conclusion of the method is sufficient.

IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF IDENTIFIED MOST FREQUENT MUTATIONS IN EXON 10, CODON 618 OF THE HUMAN RET GENE

Background: The Rearranged during Transfection (RET) gene mutations are known to be responsible for Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), as well as the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A, 2B and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Aim: In this study we analyse mutations of codon 618 (Cys618Phe, Cys618Arg, Cys618Ser, Cys618Tyr) in exon 10, in terms of their structural similarities, stability, conservation and interaction with their close interactor GFRA3 protein. Material and Methods: In the present study, multiple bioinformatics software was used, including HGMD and UniProt for the data collection. The structural prediction of different mutations at codon 618 was performed by using PSIPRED for secondary structure prediction and I-TASSER for 3D structure modelling. The mutated proteins stability was determined, using I- Mutant and MuPro, while the evolutionary amino acids conservation was assessed with the ConSurf tool. The wildtype RET and mutant proteins were independently docked with their nearby interactor protein GFRA3.Findings: The analysis indicates that among the examined mutations, the Cys618Phe displayed the greatest structural and functional similarity to the wildtype RET protein. The interaction analysis suggested that the Cys618Phe demonstrated stronger binding with GFRA3 compared to other mutations. Conclusion: This study highlights the impact of codon 618 mutations in exon 10 of the RET gene on protein stability, structure, and interactions with GFRA3. We find mutation Cys618Phe comparatively similar to RET wildtype protein while dissimilar mutation Cys618Tyr. These findings could help a molecular geneticist in analyzing mutations at codon 618 for both research and diagnostic purpose.

The influence of welding modes on metallic structures processed through WAAM

Abstract Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a versatile and cost-effective technique for fabricating complex, large-scale components with enhanced material flexibility. The bead profile, like width, height, and penetration, is critical in WAAM fabrication, influencing the quality and performance of the final component. Consistent and precise profiles are essential for accurate layering and material deposition in complex 3D structures. Various parameters, such as current, voltage, deposition rate, interpass temperature, and welding mode, impact deposit quality in WAAM. This study focuses on implementing a controlled heat input deposition approach, utilizing various welding modes: Control Weld (classic MIG/MAG), Speed Weld (voltage-controlled pulsed arc), Vari Weld (current-controlled pulsed arc), Rapid Weld (high-capacity spray arc), Root Weld (energy-reduced short arc), and Fine Weld (energy-reduced, current-controlled short arc). The study scrutinizes the impact of altering the welding mode on bead profile, bead quality, macroscopic morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties in single-bead WAAM structures.

Improving the educational accessibility of sinonasal and skull base anatomy: A novel virtual tool for otolaryngology trainees

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding the complex three‐dimensional (3D) anatomy of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and skull base, is difficult but essential for otolaryngology trainees, especially for endoscopic techniques. There is no effective teaching tool at the junior resident or medical student level allowing visualization and manipulation of these structures in 3D.ObjectiveTo create an interactive 3D app modeling the sinus and skull base for use by junior trainees learning surgical anatomy.MethodsUsing Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and ZBrush, surgeon and medical illustration teams collaborated to develop a tool combining schematic representation of relevant anatomy with radiologic and endoscopic correlates. This was then incorporated into a web application. Twenty‐one junior residents and medical students were recruited to use the app, and pre‐and post‐app self‐assessments and experience surveys were conducted to assess didactic efficacy.ResultsWe created an online‐compatible fully manipulatable schematic 3D representation of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and anterior skull base that is capable of anatomic layering. This schematic is presented alongside representative de‐identified radiologic images and surgical principles with corresponding highlighted diagrammatic structures to demonstrate clinically relevant radiologic and endoscopic anatomy. There was a statistically significant improvement in anatomical knowledge in all 13 questions assessing didactic efficacy, with 85.7% of participants providing overall positive feedback.ConclusionsAcknowledging the didactic utility in an early validation study with junior trainees, this sinus anatomy teaching tool offers a low‐cost and highly accessible modality capable of demonstrating complex anatomical relationships to trainees learning sinus and endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

Construction of 1D Molecular Conductive Wires Through a Polarized Gene Weaving Strategy for Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

The growing threat of electromagnetic pollution has become a pressing safety concern. Metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives are considered ideal candidates for mitigating electromagnetic radiation. However, due to the limitations imposed by complex post-processing and disruption of pristine crystal structures, the mechanisms of electromagnetic wave absorption remain unclear, let alone achieving atomic-level regulation in MOF derivatives. Moreover, research on MOF-based electromagnetic wave absorbers (EMWA) has predominantly focused on 2D and 3D structures, leaving 1D MOFs largely unexplored. To address these challenges, a bottom-up polarization gene weaving strategy is proposed to integrate polarizable conjugated groups, thieno(3,2-b)thiophene (TBTT), into two types of conductive MOFs by fine-tuning self-assembly conditions. As expected, both MOFs exhibited strong natural polarization effects. Among them, the 1D linear coordination mode of CuTBTT-1D demonstrated enhanced charge carrier mobility and geometric effects compared to the 2D structure, CuTBTT-2D. The synthesized 1D molecular polarization wire, with a thickness of 2.2mm, achieved ultra-high reflection loss (-77dB) and super-wide absorption bandwidth (6.52GHz). Its performance surpasses that of all known MOF-based EMWAs. This study provides a valuable strategy for the rational design of next-generation 1D MOF EMWA with atomic precision.

Fabrication of 3D Functional Nanocomposites Through Post-Doping of Two-Photon Microprinted Nanoporous Architectures.

Two-photon lithography (TPL) enables the fabrication of complex 3D structures with sub-micrometer precision. Incorporation of new functionalities into TPL-printed structures is key to advance their applications. A prevalent approach to achieve this is by directly adding functional nanomaterials into the photoresist (called "pre-doping"), which has several inherent challenges including material compatibility, light scattering, and nanoparticle agglomeration. Here, a conceptually different "post-doping" strategy is proposed, where the functionality of the TPL-printed architectures is achieved by impregnating functional materials into their nanoporous 3D mimics. Using the principle of polymerization-induced phase separation, TPL printing of complex microarchitectures with well-defined nanoporous structures having pores of ≈420nm is realized, which allows spontaneous impregnation of functional liquids via capillary effect. Importantly, unlike the "pre-doping" approach that requires printing optimization for each photoresist, this strategy is highly versatile in terms of functionalities possible. As a proof-of-concept, the impregnation of several functional liquids into TPL-printed porous microstructures is demonstrated: a fluorinated-lubricant, an ionic liquid, and three types of fluorescent liquids, conferring the microstructures with slippery, conductive, and localized fluorescence properties, respectively. Such versatility to fabricate complex microstructures with tailorable and localized functionalities is expected to open new possibilities in wide fields including bionics, electronics, and cell biology.

Self-template manufacturing of on-skin electrodes with 3D multi-channel structure for standard 3-limb-lead ECG suit

Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices are the mainstream technology in the diagnosis of various cardiovascular diseases, in which soft, flexible, permeable electrodes are the key link in human-machine interface to capture bioelectrical signals. Herein, we propose a self-template strategy to fabricate silver-coated fiber/silicone (AgCF-S) electrodes. With a simple dissolving-curing-redissolving process, the polyvinyl acetate shell around the AgCF core is in-situ removed to form a three-dimensional (3D) multi-channel structure. The conductive fibers overlap each other and pass through the silicon substrate in a network state, so that the electrode can be bent to 180° or stretched to 30%. The 3D multi-channels in AgCF-S adhesive is further coupled with a Kirigami-design structure of flexible substrate, to maintain high flexibility without sacrificing air-permeability, enabling an excellent water evaporation rate of 1.8 μg/mm2/min, and non-allergenic adhere on pigskin after 24 h. Combined with the self-developed standard 3-limb-lead ECG suit, multi-lead signals with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low variance (σ2), can be transmitted in real-time via Bluetooth and displayed in the client. Typical heart diseases such as coronary, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, etc., are detected by our ECG equipment, revealing a huge promise in future medical electronics.

Shrub height estimation for habitat conservation in NW Iberian Peninsula (Spain) using UAV LiDAR point clouds

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop and validate a method of estimating 3D parameters from DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR on DJI Matrice 300 RTK UAV data to characterise and monitor the structure and conservation status of dense shrub formations. The shrub heights were estimated using Progressive Morphological Filter (PMF) and the Ground Filter module of the FUSION/LDV software. A digital terrain model (DTM) was interpolated with RMSE 0.23 and 0.27 m, respectively, and a normalised canopy height model (nCHM) was calculated by subtracting it from the LiDAR data and the best DTM obtained. The reliability of the estimates was evaluated against georeferenced field data. In addition, the study examined the impact of vegetation characteristics and return reduction in the original point cloud on the accuracy of LiDAR-data derived . Significant differences were found in the correlations between observed and estimated data for the DTM (R2 = 0.9998) and nCHM heights (R2 = 0.51/0.54). The corresponding RMSE values were 0.23 and 0.34 m. Moreover, no significant differences in the reliability were found for different vegetation types, whereas reduction point cloud density (up to 25–50 returns/m2) did not significantly affect accuracy. In conclusion, lightweight UAV LiDAR can effectively detect sub-metric scale vegetation 3D structure, useful for fine-scale habitat conservation.

A Two-Dimensional Layered Heteropolyoxoniobate Based on Cubic Sn(IV)-Containing {Sn12Nb56O200} Cages with Good Proton Conductivity Property.

The first example of a Sn(IV)-containing heteropolyoxoniobate K6H18[Cu(en)2]8{[Sn(OH)2]12 (HNb7O22)8}·2en·88H2O (1) is built from nanoscale high-nuclearity cubic {[Sn(OH)2]12(HNb7O22)8} cluster and [Cu(en)2]2+ complexes. The cubic {[Sn(OH)2]12(HNb7O22)8} cage is composed of eight {Nb7O22} clusters and 12 SnO6 octahedrons. The eight {Nb7O22} fragments are situated at the vertices of the cubic cage, while the 12 SnO6 octahedrons are positioned along the edges of the cubic cage. The [Cu(en)2]2+ complexes link the {[Sn(OH)2]12(HNb7O22)8} clusters into two-dimensional (2D) (4,4) grid-like layers. The N-H···O hydrogen bonds between the [Cu(en)2]2+ complexes and the {[Sn(OH)2]12(HNb7O22)8} clusters link the layers to form a 3D supramolecular structure. Compound 1 exhibits a good proton conductivity of 3.1 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 85 °C and 98% relative humidity.

Association study of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway with susceptibility to COVID-19 in moroccan patient and in-silico analysis of rare variants.

The goal of our study was to explore the association of the polymorphisms in the JAK/STAT pathway among Moroccan COVID-19 patients, using a case-control approach. Next-generation sequencing was employed to investigate the IFNAR1, IFNAR2, JAK1, TYK2, STAT2, and IRF9 genes within the JAK/STAT pathway. We also performed an in silico study to examine the rare variants in this pathway. Statistical analyses were conducted using MedCalc software. Protein 3D structures were determined via the I-TASSER server, with variant structures generated using PyMOL. YASARA View allowed local 3D analysis comparing native and variant structures for pathogenic rare variants. The study encompassed 206 COVID-19 patients, averaging 45.70 ± 12.73 years and a control group (N=118). Among the examined genes, 15 common polymorphisms and 7 rare variants were identified. Adjustment for age and gender revealed a significant association between TYK2 p.Gly363Ser (p=0.036) and COVID-19 infection, where the GA variant exhibited protective effects (0.6361 [0.3405-1.1884], p=0.035). Additionally, STAT2 p.Met594Ile showed an association to COVID-19 risk (p=0.042), with heterozygous GC being linked to infection (p=0.037, OR=2.7135 [0.5684 -12.9532]). Notably, IFNAR1 p.Val168Leu mutated C allele was significantly associated with reduced susceptibility to COVID-19 severity (p=0.028, OR=0.5936 [0.3725 - 0.9461]), under the additive model (p=0.045, OR=0.626 [0.3958 - 0.9899]). Rare variants IFNAR1 p.Trp318Cys, p.Ser476Phe, and IFNAR2 p.Cys271Tyr were predicted deleterious, impacting protein structure via hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction alterations. Burden analysis of rare variants revealed a protective cumulative effect against COVID-19 severity for TYK2 (p=0.0013, OR=0.1438 [0.04237 - 0.4803]) under the dominant model. This study underscores the role of genetic factors in COVID-19 susceptibility and advocates further explorations regarding functional impacts of JAK/STAT pathway rare variants.

A Family of Two-Dimensional Quaternary Compounds A2BXY2 (A = K, Na; B = Li, Na; X = Al, Ga, In; Y = P, As, Sb) for Optoelectronics Applications.

Expanding material types and developing two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials with high performance have been hotspots in the field. In this research, it is found that the 12 existing semiconductors A2BXY2 (A = K, Na; B = Li, Na; X = Al, Ga, In; Y = P, As, Sb) have a pronounced layered structure. We predict their 2D structures and properties, using first-principles calculations. Lower exfoliation energies confirm the feasibility of mechanical exfoliation from their bulk phases and that the 2D structures can be stabilized independently at room temperature. Interestingly, A2BXY2 has an anionic tetrahedral one-dimensional chain or two-dimensional mesh structure of [XY2]3- composed of elements III-V. All A2BXY2 monolayers exhibit direct or indirect band gap features (0.78-1.94 eV). More encouragingly, the A2BXY2 monolayers possess ultrahigh carrier mobilities (∼105 cm2 V-1 s-1) at room temperature. Furthermore, the results based on the nonequilibrium Green's function indicate that 2D A2BXY2 exhibits a high ON/OFF ratio (∼104). To sum up, the A2BXY2 family is an outstanding promising candidate for optoelectronics application.

Sodium-Ion Storage in Na4VMn(PO4)3/C Porous Nanorods Electrode.

Na4VMn(PO4)3 (NVMP) is a prospective cathode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its low cost and extraordinary structural stability. However, poor conductivity restricts the electrochemical performance of NVMP, which limits its development and application. Herein, carbon-encapsulated NVMP porous nanorods are prepared via a convenient electrospinning method. The prepared one-dimensional (1D) structure can effectively accelerate the transmission rate of electrons, and the porous structure of NVMP/C nanorods can increase the contact area between the electrolyte and electrode material, which can enhance the diffusion rate of sodium ions. Owing to this advantageous nanoarchitecture, the obtained NVMP/C porous nanorods delivered an initial reversible capacity of 90.9 mA h·g-1 at 0.2 C and a discharge capacity of 68.0 mA h g-1 at 5.0 C. NVMP/C can also achieve a good cycling stability with ideal capacity retentions of 90.4% and 89.8% after 800 cycles at 1 and 3 C, respectively. Moreover, even at a temperature of -30 °C at 0.3 C, the discharge capability was up to 40.1% of that at 20 °C, suggesting an impressive low-temperature tolerance. In situ X-ray diffraction demonstrated that there was no crystal distortion of the NVMP/C electrode during charge and discharge. This work can provide a high-performance strategy on modification of polyanion-positive electrode materials for SIBs.

Comparison Between Thermal-Image-Based and Model-Based Indices to Detect the Impact of Soil Drought on Tree Canopy Temperature in Urban Environments

This study aimed to determine whether canopy and air temperature difference (ΔT) as an existing simple normalizing index can be used to detect an increase in canopy temperature induced by soil drought in urban parks, regardless of the unique energy balance and three-dimensional (3D) structure of urban trees. Specifically, we used a thermal infrared camera to measure the canopy temperature of Zelkova serrata trees and compared the temporal variation of ΔT to that of environmental factors, including solar radiation, wind speed, vapor pressure deficit, and soil water content. Normalization based on a 3D energy-balance model was also performed and used for comparison with ΔT. To represent the 3D structure, a terrestrial light detection and ranging-derived 3D tree model was used as the input spatial data. The temporal variation in ΔT was similar to that of the index derived using the energy-balance model, which considered the 3D structure of trees and 3D radiative transfer, with a correlation coefficient of 0.85. In conclusion, the thermal-image-based ΔT performed comparably to an index based on the 3D energy-balance model and detected the increase in canopy temperature because of the reduction in soil water content for Z. serrata trees in an urban environment.

Advancing yeast cell analysis: A cryomethod for serial block-face scanning electron microscopy imaging in mitochondrial morphology studies.

Conventional Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis of biological samples often provides limited insights due to its inherent two-dimensional (2D) nature. This limitation hampers a comprehensive understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) complexity of cellular structures, occasionally leading to misinterpretations. Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy emerges as a powerful method for acquiring high-resolution 3D images of cellular volumes. By iteratively removing ultrathin sample sections and capturing images of each newly exposed surface, Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy allows for the meticulous reconstruction of a comprehensive 3D volume. In this study, we investigate the 3D architecture of altered mitochondrial morphologies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy imaging. We have developed a novel cryomethod based on plunge freezing and a dedicated freeze-substitution protocol. This protocol enhances ultrastructural preservation enabling a more accurate understanding of mitochondrial defects observed in 2D electron microscopy. Our findings underscore the utility of Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy coupled with optimized sample preparation techniques in elucidating complex cellular structures in 3D.

Crystal and Electronic Structure of β‐Nb2N Thin Films Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

AbstractNiobium nitrides have garnered significant research interest since their discovery due to their exceptional properties and broad applications. In this study, NbNx thin films are successfully grown on 4H(6H)‐SiC(001) substrates using nitrogen‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Through scanning transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction, it is confirmed that the crystal structure of the thin films corresponds to the β‐Nb2N. Different from the previously reported structure of the βA phase (P63/mmc) of β‐Nb2N, the results clearly match with the βB phase (). Resistivity measurements reveal that β‐Nb2N exhibits superconductivity at ≈10 K with an upper critical field of ≈5 T. Its 3D electronic structure is further elucidated using angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculations. The observed superconductivity in β‐Nb2N is attributed to its relatively high electron–phonon coupling strength and density of states at Fermi level. Interestingly, it is found that the sample is close to a Lifshitz transition, suggesting potential for tunable physical properties. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the crystal and electronic structures of β‐Nb2N, facilitating its future applications.